Table.



No. 638,060. Patented Nov. 28, 1899. W. H. McHUGH.

TABLE (Application filed July 7, 189B. Renewed May 15, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet l.

W/TNESSES INVENTOR A TTOHNE )03,

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Patented Nov. 28, I899.

w. H. McHUGH.

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(Application filed July 7, 1898. Renewed m 15, 1899A (No Model.) 2Shaets$heet 2.

g1 lllimumml g INVENTOI? WITNESSES 5 THE nomus PETERS 00., PuoToury-wWASHINGTDN. o. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MOHUGH, OF'GI-IICAGQIILLINOIS.

TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,060, dated November28, 1899.

Application filed July '7. 1898. Renewed May 15, 1899. Serial No.716,922. (No model.)

To otZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. M CHUGH, a citizen of Oanada,residing atChicago,in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Tables; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it make and usethe same.

My invention has relation to tables; and it consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to provide a table with collapsible legs,said table being adapted to be extended and havinga central removableleg. I also provide an especiallyconstructed sliding mechanism wherebythe table may be extended and the framework held in its proper position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan View showing thelegs in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of thetable, showing the legs collapsed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with partsbroken away, showing the legs in their normal positions. Fig. 4 is aside elevation showing the legs collapsed. Fig. 5 is a top plan view,partly in section, of the sliding mechanism for extending the frameworkof the table; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the sliding mechanism asshown in Fig. 5.

The table-top consists of the end sections 1 and 2, said sections beingin the same plane. Each of the said sections 1 and 2 is provided on itsunder sideand near its outer corners with a hinged leg 3, the said legbeing so hinged as to swing in the direction of the longitudinal axis ofthe section. The stops 4 4 appertains to are also located on the underside of each of the said sections near the outer corners. \Vhen the legs3 3 are in their extended positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the saidstops 4 4 bear laterally against the outer faces of the upper portionsof the said legs, thus bracing the said legs. The hinged strip 5 extendsin the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the section, saidstrips being adapted to swing outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2,.inalinement with the lateral axis of the sections. Said strips 5 when neara perpendicular position bear at each end against the upper ends of thelegs 3 3, thus bracing the legs against each other. The short strips 6 6extend transversely across the sections 1 and 2, the outer ends of thesaid strips being adapted to bear laterally against the upper ends ofthe legs. Thus the legs 3 3 are braced on all sides, and when the legsare extended they are firmly held in a box-frame. The inner corners ofthe strips 5 5 are provided with the recesses 7, said recesses beingadapted to receive the hinges of the legs 3 3, as indicated in Fig. 1.The framework of the extension mechanism consists of the tongued strips8 8, said strips being secured to one of the sections of the top and thetongued strips 9 9 being secured to the opposite section of the 'top.The said strips 8 8 and 9 9 extend under both sections 1 and 2 of thetop when the table is contracted, as shown in Fig. 1. The strip 10 islocated between the tongued strips 8 and 9, the said strip 10 beingprovided on opposite sides with suitable grooves adapted to receive thetongues of the strips 8 and 9, as shown in Fig. (3. The two strips 10 10are connected by the horizontal piece 11, the said horizontal piece 11having at or near its center a recess 12, said recess having its lateralwalls 13 slanting, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper end of the removableleg 14 is provided with a wedge-shaped section 15, said section 15 beingadapted to slip laterallyin the recess 12, and thus attach the leg 14 tothe said strip 11. It is obvious that the said leg 14 may be slippedout, and when the table is collapsed it may be placed between the strip11 and the folded legs 33, as shown in Fig. 2. At suitable intervals inthe grooves of the strips 10 triangular recesses 16 and 17 are made,said recesses being arranged in pairs, having their abrupt wallsadjacent to each other and their inclined walls diverging outwardly, andthe angular springs 18 and 19 are'adapted at certain times to be housedin the said respective recesses. The tongues of the strips 8 and 9 arealso provided with angular recesses 20 and 21, said recesses being alsoarranged in pairs, the said recesses 20 and 21 each having one slantingside'and one abrupt side, as shown in Fig. 5, the slanting sides of thetwo recesses being adjacent to each other and diverging in- Wardly. Thesprings 18 and 19 have an out ward tension, and it will be seen that asthe strip 9 is slipped in the direction as indicated by the arrow justabove it in Fig. 5 the abrupt wall of the recess 20 will come in contactwith the end of the spring 19, and thus the movement of the said strip 9with relation to the central strip 10 is limited. As shown in the saidfigure, the end of the spring 18 engages the abrupt side of the recess21, and thus the movement of the strip 9 in the reverse direction, asindicated by the arrow, is limited. The same is true of the movement ofthe strip 8 with relation to the strip 10. Thus it will be seen that thetable may be extendedthat is, the sections 1 and 2 may be sufficientlyseparated and maintained at the proper distance apartthereby permittingsuitable leaves (not shown in the drawings) to be inserted between thesaid sections 1 and 2. It will thus be seen that when the table iscollapsed, as shown in Fig. 4, the parts are solidly packed together andoccupy a minimum amount of space and that when the legs are extended, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, the table is firmly braced and is substantialand is capable of supporting considerable weight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a table consisting of a top, legs hinged to the under side of thetop, said legs adapted to be swung down against the under side of thetop, stops fixed to the under side of the table and adapted to bearagainst the outer faces of the legs when in upright positions,perpendicular strips rigidly fixed to the under side of the table andadapted to bear laterally against the legs,hinged strips adapted to beswung against the under side of the table, said hinged strips when in aperpendicular position bearing at their ends against the legs and thusfirmly bracing them.

2. In a table consisting of a top, legs hinged to the under side of thetop and adapted to be folded against the under side of the top, stopsfixed to the under side of the table and against the legs, hinged stripsattached to the underside of the table, said hinged strips having attheir ends suitable recesses adapted to receive the hinges of the legs,said hinged strips when in a perpendicular position bearing laterallyagainst the legs and firmly bracing them.

3. A table consisting of suitable end sections forming a portion of thetop, and means for separating said sections consisting of a pair oftongued strips secured to the under sides of the sections, a groovedstrip arranged between said tongued strips and receiving the tongues ofthe latter in its grooves, said grooves and tongues being provided withrecesses, and springs carried by the grooved strip and adapted to entersaid recesses of the tongued and grooved strips for locking the latterin adjusted position.

4. A table consisting of end sections forming a portion-of the top, andmeans for separating said sections consisting of a pair of tonguedstrips and a grooved strip arranged therebetween, each of said stripsbeing provided with triangular recesses arranged in pairs, the recessesof the grooved strip having their abrupt walls adjacent to each otherand their inclined walls diverging outwardly, the recesses of thetongued strips having their inclined walls arranged adjacent to eachother and diverging inwardly, and springs carried by the grooved stripand arranged at the recesses thereof, said springs being adapted toengage the abrupt walls of the recesses of the tongued strips forlimiting the sliding movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. MOHUGH.

Witnesses:

EDWARD C. SHARER, WILLIs H. HUTsoN.

